Wyckoff, Florence Richardson, 1905-

Biographical Information

Florence Richardson Wyckoff dedicated her long life to social reform. Raised in Berkeley, California and trained as an artist, Wyckoff became interested in social service during the Great Depression. Living in San Francisco in the 1930s, Wyckoff worked with and befriended many key figures in the local labor movement. This work piqued her interest in the political process and she campaigned for Culbert L. Olson in the 1938 gubernatorial election. Upon his election, Olson invited Wyckoff to take a position in the State Relief Administration (SRA), which became her first formal job in the social services profession. Over the course of her life, Wyckoff's commitment to the rights of children and laborers led to her involvement on a number of fronts, from public health and housing to literacy and women's rights. She remained active in national, state, and local politics until her death in 2000.

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